Rush, esp. 1976-84. Exit stage left is their best album.
Gottschalk - American pianist of 1800s, most cool.
Satriani - at his best this guy rules.
Terje Rypdal - very original guitarist, plays a mixture of jazzy and orchestral stuff. Rocky soloist but uses lots of volume swells. If mountains could sing is a smart album.
Marty Friedman - True obsessions has some great music with eastern scales. Great guitarist.
Chopin, Rachmaninov, Bach. Surely you've heard of these guys.
Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane, Brett Garsed and TJ Helmerich, all tops fusion guitarists, stunningly able musicians with impecable technique. sadly Lane's just died.
If I couldn't laugh at myself how could I laugh at someone less ridiculous?
